what am i grateful for today?
in this weather? air conditioning. but more seriously ..
welcome to the very first introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, an 18 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.
btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.
onto today’s topic: what am i grateful for today? 🫂
i wasn’t allowed to cross the street by myself until grade 8. yet now, i catch solo flights and play grounders at midnight in LA. i gained a lot of autonomy in the last 2 years, and it wasn’t something i had to force and strain my relationship with my parents for.
today, i’m so grateful for my parents’ trust and belief in me. i can’t pursue something with 100% focus and passion if my parents aren’t onboard with it.
exactly 1 year ago, i asked: “can i go fly to copenhagen for a conference?”
their exact reaction was: “girl what the hell are you talking about?” keep in mind, we already had a weekend trip booked for part of the conference dates. 😭
i explained what i would gain professionally and personally, alongside the logistics all planned out. with this, they gave me their approval, and it turned out to be one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life (i also made it back in time for our family weekend trip 😋).
with their unwavering support, i have been able to dream ambitiously, and then go take steps towards achieving these dreams.
you might say “well that’s what a parent should do,” but it’s not so easy for immigrant parents to let their child take on the risk and instability they have experienced first-hand when settling down in a foreign country. it takes a lot of courage to let your child go for something you fear yourself. remember, it’s your parents’ first time experiencing life as well. :’)
i’m grateful today for my parents’ courage, trust, and confidence in me.
they didn’t laugh or tease me for wanting to start this daily brain dump, they just cheered me on — my heart warmed seeing my mom’s email pop up in the sign-up list.
being able to take on anything knowing my parents will be standing right there to support me is a huge blessing, and i wish it on everyone. (:
cool finds of the day 🔍️
folio fall venture internship (applications due aug 4th!)
business today’s international conference (for uni/college students, applications due sept 5th!)
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teehee,
harsehaj ✌️
PS. if you have a question/topic you think would be interesting for me to reflect on, don’t hesitate to reply to my emails with any ideas you ever have. :)